Reinforced sheet fabric.



C. B. TEWKSBURY.

REINFORCED SHEET FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, I916.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

Alto/"neg.

Kai/messes.-

CHARLES B. TEWKSBURY, OE WEST ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SAFE- GUARD TAG COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

REINFORCED SHEET FABRIC.

specification of Letters I'atent. Patented NOV. 19, 1918.

Application filed November 15, 1916. Serial No. 131,541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. TEWKS- BURY, a citizen of the United States, residing strands or wires, so united to the paper or other suitable sheet material which constitutes the body of the novel fabric,that, despite the presence of the reinforcements, a flat surface may be provided upon at least one side of the tape or the like; which surface is adapted to be conveniently, firmly and properly adhered to apackage or bundle,for instance,-a thing which to the best of my knowledge has never heretofore been possible with reinforced paper tape or the equivalent thereof."

Further, a reinforced fabric, such as that in question, by reason of its said flatsurface, is peculiarly well fitted for use in bags, tape or the like where it is desirable to print upon a surface of the article and where great difliculty is encountered in effecting the impression of clean and undeformed letters upon a surface which presents ridges or lumps;

My invention, considered in another of its aspects, has for one of its objects the cheapening of production and simplification of the structure of reinforced sheet material, by the constitution of the fabric in such fashion that but one sheet of paper, or the equivalent thereof, need be employed; the reinforcing strands being preferably entirely received into depressions or corrugations in the paper and the adhesive coating, such as asphalt, which retains the strands in place, itself forming one of the exposed sides of the fabric, and not of necesslty being covered with any additional paper layer, such as has heretofore been found requisite.

This I have found to be possible, largely by reason of my causing the reinforcing strands to be preferably wholly and entirely received into but a single sheet of paper or the like. rather than to sink the strands but less than half way into a sheet on one side thereof While the remaining half or less than half is then received into a second or opposed sheet, in like fashion,

Again, by reason'of the provision of an exposed coating of asphalt or similar substance which is Waterproof in character, I am enabled to apply thereto a coating of gum or. other adhesive which issoluble in water and to thereby secure practically complete protection from moisture for the solu ble adhesive when the tape or the like has been adhered to a package,afeature of considerable value.

By reason of the anhygroscopic character of the asphalt or equivalent layer, which it will be observed is directly above and in contact with the soluble adhesive layer, mois-.

ture cannot be absorbed from even the edge of this more or less hygroscopic overlying material, through the latter, whereby to re- .sult in a loosening up of the edges of the tape or the like from the article to Which-the fabric has been applied.

These and a number of other objects of my invention will be hereinafter referred to and the novel combinations of means and elements whereby said objects may be attained Will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. y

In the drawing which forms a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, I have exemplified two preferred constructions;.but as I am aware ofvarious changes and modifications which may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention, I desire to be limited only by the scope of said claims.

Referring to the drawing:.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a fragment of tape, suitable for binding the edges of cartons, etc.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the tape shown in Fig. 1; the section being taken on line II-II of the latter figure.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section ofa strand, showing one preferred mode of embedding the same in its groove and in the ing strands; the section being taken on the line II of Fig. 1; and v Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of reinforced fabric; the same being a modi- In the preferred construction of my improved fabric, there is provided at least one sheet of flexible body-forming material, 1, which may, for example, be paper or the like; 'This material is coated upon one side thereof with a binder 2 of asphalt, or the equivalent of the latter, and reinforclng strands 3, of cord, wire, or the like, are emtions of the grooves not occupied by the reinforcing strands.

By reason of this construction, there is obtained a flat, or substantially fiat, surface; which, if the retaining material be of asphalt or other waterproof material, is particularly well adapted to protect a layer of adhesive 4, which may be applied to the asphalt; such adhesive being soluble in water, which of course the asphalt is not, and hence capable of being most readily used as an attaching medium when the tape is applied to the portions of an article which it is to bind together.

The advantage of having a waterproof coating directly above and in immediate contact with the soluble adhesive layer is that even though the fabric be exposed to a very considerable amount of moisture, still the soluble adhesive layer is so protected that despite the fact that the body-forming ma terial 1, may be highly hygroscopic in character; still the moi ture absorbed thereby cannot reach the soluble adhesive whereby to cause the fabric to separate from the surface to which it is attached.

-Thus, even the edges of the adhered fab-- ric cannot well become inadvertently loosened when oncethe fabric has been caused to adhere to a surface of a box or the like; while even though the fabric comprises but one sheet orstrip of paper or the like, 1, it is rendered of great strength by reason of the presence of the reinforcing strands deeply embedded in the body thereof.

Again, since these strands are thus practically completely received into the deep grooves in the material 1, the surface 2 is substantially flat and hence the fabric may be caused to adhere by its adhesive layer, 4, to any flat surface to which it is applied over if desired, substantially the entire width of the tape or the like. This is of course exceedingly important, and, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever heretofore succeeded in producing, or indeed even attempted to produce, a. strand-reinforced composite sheet or strip which would thus .offer aflat adherentsurface.

On the contrary, it has been customary where adhesive Lasaees tape or sheet material has been provided with strand reinforcements, to but partly embed the strands in relatively shallow grooves, each not over half the depth of the strand two sheets of paper being used which receive the respective halves of the reinforing strands betweenthem. Such a construction presents, at best, a ridged or lumpy surface upon both sides thereof, and if adhesive be applied to one of these sides, and the fabric be in turn applied to a flat surface, there are provided but mere lines or points of contact, rather than an extended surface of contact over, if desired, the entire breadth and length of the fabric.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the strands 3 extend longitudinally of the tape and for convenience 'I shall therefore hereinafter term them warp .strands, since in certain cases I prefer to provide cross strands 3, as indicated in Fig. 1. These cross strands which may conveniently be designated Weft strands, are similarly embedded in deep groove-like depressions, to preserve the flat surface aforesaid; and such transverse strands not only serve to increase the tensile strength of the fabric transversely thereof, but also, when they extend substantially straight across grooves of the other set of strands, they act to prevent spreading apart of the walls of the latter grooves when said fabric is placed under, for example, transverse tensile stress. Correspondingly where the warp strands extend straight across the grooves of weft strands, these'latter grooves are tied, so to speak, against spreading due to longitudinal stresses. The fact, however, that asphalt, glue or the like, has itself a moderately high tensile strength,and since further it may be caused to quite completely fill the depressions in the fabric,in itself, where such construction is used, tends to prevent spreading apart of the groove-Walls, since, as shown in Fig. 2 obviously the portions 2 of the binder (which are caused to lie in, or substantially in, the plane of the flat surfaceand act as direct film-like ties across the otherwise open sides of the grooves) tend to prevent any'separation of the walls of the grooves, whether these grooves extend longitudinally or transversely. or both. a

.The provision of what are in effect tiestrands, as above described, which have straight portions extending across the grooves of crossing strands, whether weft or warp, is most desirable where great strength of fabric is desired; and as shown in Fig. 1, I prefer to so arrange the reinforcements that one warp strand will extend substantially straight throughout its lengthywhile the warp next to said one is looped over the suecessii e weft strands which it encounters; and so on, preferably, in alternation, as indicated in Fig. 3. This results in all of the weft-grooves being tied I longitudinal stresses in the fabric are apt to be considerably greater than any transverse stresses which are likely to be imposed. To further strengthen the fabric while at the same time obviating the presence of unnecessarily high points orlumps on eventhe corrugated surface thereof, I prefer, as shown in Fig. 2 to so force, or interlock by pressure, the Weft strands into the warp and vice versa, thatwhat is really, in effect, a mortised joint is formed at the junctions of these threads or strands and this feature I consider one of considerable importance. As indicated in this section the strand 3 (as indeed also the strand 3") becomes substantially elliptical at each junction point; but 1s preferably circular in cross-sectionmy improved fabric, is otherwise peculiarly well adapted to receive printing, and in orde'r'that a proper printing surface may be afforded, in certain cases I provide an additional sheet or layer of paper 5, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be observed, however. that the strands 3 are prefera'blv not embedded at all in this additional sheet; being received as aforesaid, substantially entirely into deep depressions in sheet 1. Thus, the flat surface of the sheet 5 is preserved and when printing is impressed thereon, the letters are I undistortedand may be readily applied. i Here again, my improved fabric is distlnguished from the known art, by the disposition of all strands in deep grooves and by the mortising of crossing strands, to the end that a very strong fabric may be formed, and one, preferably, having-a flat side in contradlstinction to a lumpy or corrugated surface on both sides.

It will therefore be seen that while. y

improved fabric, in both of its preferred afford a considerable number of advantages.

In certain of the claims I have employed the term single sheet, when referring to the sheet 1 of the construction shown in Fig.

depressions l; but it will be understood that in so far as this sheet, per se, is concerned, it isimmaterial of What it is formed or how it may be constituted or built up, so long as in itself it presents in efleot but a single shee or layer of body-forming material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: j

1. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a single sheet of flexible body-forming material, reinforcing strands embedded in groove-like depressions in said material, each depression being of sufficient depth to receive substantially the entire thickness of thehorresponding strand, and flexible retaining material plastically receiving said reinforcing strands, one side of said fabric being substantially flat despite the presence of the depressions and reinforcing strands therein, and the opposite side of said sheet being embossed in correspondence with said depressions, said fabric having tie-forming provisions comprising auxiliary strand parts also embedded in groove-like depressions in said. body-forming material and extending substantially straight across the groove-like first mentioned, to prevent spreading apart of the walls of the latter.

, 2. Reinforced sheet/fabric comprising a single sheet of flexible body-forming material, reinforcing strands 3 embedded in groove-like depressions in said material, each depression being of sufficient depth to receive substantially the entire thickness of the corresponding strand, and flexible retaining material plastically receiving said reinforcing strands, one sideof said fabric being flat despite the presence of the depressions and reinforcing strands therein, and the opposite side of said sheet being embossed in correspondence with said depressions, said fabric having tie-forming provisions comprising film-like ties in combination with co-acting substantially straight cross-strand parts 3', which together pre vent spreading apart of the walls of the depressions when the fabric is placed under tension in a direction transverse to said'reinforcing strands.

3. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a single sheet of flexible body-forming material of a determined thickness, reinforcing strands, of greater thickness than that aforesaid, embedded in groove-like depressions in said material, each depression being of just sufiic-ient depth to receive substantially the entire thickness of the corresponding strand, and flexible retaining material plastically receiving said reinforcing strands, one side of said fabric being substantially flat despite the presence of the depressions and reinforcing strands therein, and the opposite side of said sheet being embossed in correspondence with said depressions, said fabric having tie-forming films of said fiexiblere v &

e v strands, where bent, being always bent out taining material which extend straight across the mouths of said groove-like depressions and hold the walls of the latter from spreading apart when the fabric is placed under tension in a direction transverse to said strands.

4. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheet of flexible body-forming material, reinforcing warp and Weft strands embedded in groove-like depressions in said material, and flexible retaining material to plastically receive and hold said strands in place, one at least of said warp strands extending substantially straight through said fabric, the weft strands encountered by it being each bent partly. therearound, while another of said Warp strands is correspondingly bent past each successive weft strand encountered along its length.

5. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheet of flexible body-forming material, re-

inforcing warp and Weft strands embedded in groove-like depressions in said material, and flexible retaining material to plastically receive and hold said strands in place, one

at least of said Warp strandsextending substantially straight through said fabric, the weft strands encountered by it being each bent partly therearound, while another of said warp strands is correspondingly bent past each successive weft strand encountered along its length-the warp strands, where bent, being always bent out in the same direction.

6. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a' sheet of flexible body-forming material, renforcing Warp and weft strands embedded 1n groove-like depressions in said material, and flexible retaining material to plastically receive and hold said strands in place, one

at least of said warp strands extending substantially straight through said'fabric, the Weft strands encountered by it being each bent partly therearound, while another of said Warp strands is correspondingly bent past each successive weft strand encounteredv along its length, the Weft strands, where bent, beingalways bent outin the same direction.

7. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheet of flexible-body-forming material, remforcing warp and weft strands embedded in groove like depressions in said material, and flexible retaining material to plastica'lly receive and hold said strands in place, one at least of said Warp strands extending -substantially straight through said fabric, the weft strands encountered by it being each bent partly therearound, while another of said warp strands 'is correspondingly bent past'each successive weft strand encountered along its length, both the Warp and weft in the same direction.

8. Reinforced sheet fabric-comprising a sheetof flexible body-forming material, crossed reinforcing strands embedded in groove-like depressions in said material, and flexible retaining material to plastically receive and hold said strands inplace, said crossing strands being compressively interlocked with each other at their junction points.

9. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a flush to present a fiat surface upon one side 1 of said sheet despite the presence of the depressions and reinforcing the strands therein, the opposite side of said sheet being embossed in correspondence with'said depressions, and a fiat covering layer of watersoluble adhesive flexible material, engaged to the flat exposed portions of said retaining material.

10. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising'a sheet of flexible body-forming material, one or more reinforcing strands embedded in' groove-like depressions in said material, each depression being of suflicient depth to receive practically the entire thickness of the corresponding strand, flexible waterproof retaining material plastically surrounding each reinforcing strand and holding it firmly in its depression while adhesively engaging the walls of said depression to prevent spreading apart-of the same, and watersoluble' adhesive directly applied to the exposed portions of said waterproof retaining material, the latter protecting the former from moisture when the so formed flat adhesive side of said fabric has been attached to an article.

11. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheetof paper coated with asphalt and having reinforcing strands'received into portions of said asphalt lying in relatively deep depressions in-said aper sheet, to present a flat asphaltic sur ace, and water-soluble adhesive directly applied to said flat surface s and protected thereby from moisture when the fabric is in position upon an article to which it is caused to adhere.

12, Reinforced sheet fabric consisting of 1 252 but a single sheet of paper coated with as- .phalt and having reinforcing strands re- 13. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheet of paper coated with asphalt and having at least one set of reinforcing strands received into portions of said asphalt lying in relatively deep depressions in said paper sheet, and substantially inextensible means to co-act with said portions to prevent spreading apart of the walls of said depressions and consequent loosening of said strands.

14. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheet of flexible hygroscopic body-forming material coated with a plastic waterproof binder and having reinforcing strands in portions of said binder lying in depressions in said sheet, one side of the so constituted fabric presenting a substantially flat waterproof surface, and Water-soluble adhesive directly applied to said flat surface and protected thereby from moisture which may traverse said hygroscopic material when the fabric is in position upon an article to which it is caused to adhere.

15. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheet of flexible body-forming material, crossed reinforcingstrands lying in groovelike depressions in said material, flexible retaining material to plastically receive and hold said strands in place, said crossing strands being compressively interlocked one into the other'at their junction points, and a covering layer of flexible material, adhesively engaged to the exposed portions of said retaining material.

16; Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheet of flexible body-forming material, crossed reinforcing strands 1 embedded in groove-like depressions in said material, flexible retaining material to plastically receive and hold said strands in place, said crossing strandsbeing compressively intersheet of flexible body-forming material,

crossed reinforcing strands lying in groovelike depressions in said material, flexible retaining material to'plastically receive and hold said strands in place, said strands being compressively interlocked With each other at their junction points, and a covering layer of flexible material, adhesively engaged tothe exposed portions of said retaining material.

18. Reinforced sheet fabric comprising a sheet of flexible body-forming material, a

reinforcing strand embedded in a groove-like depression in said material, a strand the general course of which is substantially at right angles to that of the first mentioned strand,

said second strand being in locked relationship to the first, and means'to tie together the opposed Walls of said groove-like depression, to prevent spreading apart of said walls and to firmly hold in place in said depression the strand embedded therein, said means co-acting with said sheet to present a flat sur'face'on one side of the latter.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

W. H. PALMER, N. L. DONAHUE.

CHARLES B. TEVVKSBURY. 

